OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLY IN THE DETAILS...

THE GOAL OF THE AGS IS SIMPLE. If nothing else, to make an impact on how we ought to play the game. Regardless of opinion, the game was played with 'rules of the day'. Simpler rules, tactical rules, fun rules - bad luck (stymie) was even part of the daily game. Here you will have access to these rules - learn them, use them, encourage their use to your event director, help make our game better - SIMPLE.

The simplest thing an Auld Golfer can do is to encourage playing the ball 'Down' on the green. This is the way is was done, period. No markers, no alignment lines, furthest from the hole putts the ball.
In Match Play, play around or over the opponents ball.
In Stroke Play, ask your opponent to Lift & Re-Place the ball.
See more details inside...

AGS play rules represent the realistic hickory era and can be applied to any event allowing replica clubs as well. It is the application of these era authentic rules that is being promoted here to others. We urge all event directors to consider using these more applicable play rules for their events. Help make our hickory golf world better.
These golf club guidelines are intended to define the differences from era to era, an important aspect of being an AGS member.

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AGS History

People wonder if the Auld Golf Society is a gutty golf organization. It's not. It's a bit about every era of golf played up and into the first metal shafted clubs. It's about discovering that there is more to hickory golf than a big event with wooden shafted clubs. It's about asking yourself, "what am I doing"? and finally about true representation of the game from the past eras.

Subscribing members will receive periodic newsletters with information and opinions from Auld Mac (Chris McIntyre) aimed to raise awareness and measure the progress of the AGS. All newsletters are archived and available as reference for new members.

Auld Golf Society

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31

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5

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AGS MATCH PLAY INVITATIONAL

Sponsored by the Auld Golf Society and playing by AGS guidelines (that being antique clubs, replica golf balls, 7-9 clubs in a set), 20 players enjoyed auld golf at its finest over the weekend of May 27-28 2017.

The theme was to imagine attending the a golf outing circa 1917 and to play the game as close as possible to what was the common game of the day – match play. To make it interesting organized, Chris “Auld Mac” McIntyre created a system of foursome “Pods,” establishing an opportunity to have five pod winners after two full rounds of golf. Each player played nine-hole matches with the other three players, then a final 9-hole match with the two players having the most wins and points playing it out for the win.

The field at the 2017 Bandon Dunes Match Play Invitational.

Of course, the ball was played “down” on the entire course, including the greens. No marking the ball as in modern golf, and the stymie was part of the game. There were only a few instances requiring some re-routing, most notably Ken Holtz deftly lofting a pitch over his opponent’s golf ball and into the cup!

It should be noted that in 1917 (and throughout the entire hickory era) the first “Rule of Golf” is quoted as The game of golf is played by two sides. Stroke competition was reserved for country club Medal Days and Championships. Match play was the game played by most golfers on a daily basis.

Participating golfers gathered at the wonderful Bandon Dunes practice area with Auld Mac as their guide to the past. “Clock Golf” and a croquet-like putting course – with vintage hoops, tunnel, and a bridge – were set-up for the players to score their best, with prizes presented for the lowest scores. A big hit with players was “Shorty’s” nine-hole practice course, which they played with loaned 1890s irons and gutty golf balls.

The Clock Golf winner was Karl Nagy with 18 strokes around the game.

The Putting Course winner was Ernie Ernst with 15 strokes around the game.

And the Gutty Golf winner was Erik Beer with a fine 30, his very first experience with clubs and golf of that era.

As fun as those games were, all were looking forward to the grand golf awaiting on two of Bandon’s fine courses -– Old Macdonald and Bandon Dunes. The day greeted us with comfortable 60 degree temperatures, overcast skies, and a light breeze. At the practice area, the Vintage Image Studio provided props and old-time camera for capturing player photos and the look and feel of an earlier time. With Auld Mac as photographer, individuals, foursomes, and the group were captured for posterity in a sometimes humorous, but very vintage feel.

The tournament was most enjoyable for everyone. A number of players hired experienced local caddies who were provided plus-fours, stockings, and big-apple caps. Each caddie was presented a vintage-look caddie badge as a memento of the event.